Richard Molesworth, 3rd Viscount Molesworth
Encyclopedia
Field Marshal
Richard Molesworth, 3rd Viscount Molesworth, PC
(1680 – 12 October 1758), styled The Honourable Richard Molesworth from 1716 to 1726, was an Anglo-Irish military officer, politician and nobleman.
. On 22 May 1706, the eve of the battle of Ramillies, he was appointed aide-de-camp to the great Duke of Marlborough. During the battle, a French cavalry unit came close to killing the Duke when an Irish recruit, Patrick Molaise O'Meighan, shot the Duke's horse dead from under him. Molesworth galloped to the rescue, mounted the Duke on his horse and made good their escape. By rescuing Marlborough when he had fallen from his horse, he is famously attributed to saving Marlborough's life at the Battle of Ramillies
. As a result of his heroism, he was bestowed by the monach the right to fly the royal colours in perpetuity.
In 1707 he became Commanding Officer
of the Coldstream Guards
. He was present at the relief of Brussels
and at the Battle of Malplaquet
in 1709. The following year he served in Catalonia
.
In 1714 he became Lieutenant of the Ordnance in Ireland
then became Member of Parliament
in the Irish House of Commons
for Swords
. In 1715 he raised a Regiment of Dragoons and helped suppress the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715.
He was made Commander-in-Chief, Ireland
in 1751, which was the title of the commander of all British forces in Ireland before 1922, and since held by the President of Ireland.
He was colonel
of the 5th Regiment of Dragoons and 9th Regiment of Dragoons.
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
Richard Molesworth, 3rd Viscount Molesworth, PC
Privy Council of Ireland
The Privy Council of Ireland was an institution of the Kingdom of Ireland until 31 December 1800 and of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1801-1922...
(1680 – 12 October 1758), styled The Honourable Richard Molesworth from 1716 to 1726, was an Anglo-Irish military officer, politician and nobleman.
Military career
Molesworth was commissioned into Orkney's Regiment in 1702; he served with his Regiment at the Battle of BlenheimBattle of Blenheim
The Battle of Blenheim , fought on 13 August 1704, was a major battle of the War of the Spanish Succession. Louis XIV of France sought to knock Emperor Leopold out of the war by seizing Vienna, the Habsburg capital, and gain a favourable peace settlement...
. On 22 May 1706, the eve of the battle of Ramillies, he was appointed aide-de-camp to the great Duke of Marlborough. During the battle, a French cavalry unit came close to killing the Duke when an Irish recruit, Patrick Molaise O'Meighan, shot the Duke's horse dead from under him. Molesworth galloped to the rescue, mounted the Duke on his horse and made good their escape. By rescuing Marlborough when he had fallen from his horse, he is famously attributed to saving Marlborough's life at the Battle of Ramillies
Battle of Ramillies
The Battle of Ramillies , fought on 23 May 1706, was a major engagement of the War of the Spanish Succession. For the Grand Alliance – Austria, England, and the Dutch Republic – the battle had followed an indecisive campaign against the Bourbon armies of King Louis XIV of France in 1705...
. As a result of his heroism, he was bestowed by the monach the right to fly the royal colours in perpetuity.
In 1707 he became Commanding Officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
of the Coldstream Guards
Coldstream Guards
Her Majesty's Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards, also known officially as the Coldstream Guards , is a regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division or Household Division....
. He was present at the relief of Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
and at the Battle of Malplaquet
Battle of Malplaquet
The Battle of Malplaquet, fought on 11 September 1709, was one of the main battles of the War of the Spanish Succession, which opposed the Bourbons of France and Spain against an alliance whose major members were the Habsburg Monarchy, Great Britain, the United Provinces and the Kingdom of...
in 1709. The following year he served in Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
.
In 1714 he became Lieutenant of the Ordnance in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
then became Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
in the Irish House of Commons
Irish House of Commons
The Irish House of Commons was the lower house of the Parliament of Ireland, that existed from 1297 until 1800. The upper house was the House of Lords...
for Swords
Swords (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Swords was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons to 1801.-1692–1801:...
. In 1715 he raised a Regiment of Dragoons and helped suppress the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715.
He was made Commander-in-Chief, Ireland
Commander-in-Chief, Ireland
Commander-in-Chief, Ireland was title of the commander of British forces in Ireland before 1922.The role nominally is held by the President of Ireland today as the supreme commander of the Defence Forces.-Commanders-in-Chief, Ireland, 1700-1922:...
in 1751, which was the title of the commander of all British forces in Ireland before 1922, and since held by the President of Ireland.
He was colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
of the 5th Regiment of Dragoons and 9th Regiment of Dragoons.